SPORTS

Big East Adds Navy, Doubles Conference Buyout

The Midshipmen Become the First Service Academy to Join A BCS Automatic Qualifier Conference (AP Photo).

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island -

Conference realignment continues this offseason as the Big East announced Tuesday that it would be adding the Navy Midshipmen to its ranks in 2015, as well as doubling its buyout for a school from $5mil to $10mil.

The Midshipmen now become the first service academy to play in an BCS Automatic-Qualifier conference, with the Air Force Academy currently playing in the Mountain West and the Army Black Knights as an Independent.

The buyout increase could directly affect the Big 12's future, with West Virginia's state as a future conference member currently in flux. In late December, the conference announced that it would not be accepting buyouts from the Mountaineers, as well as Syracuse and Pittsburgh who are both attempting to join the ACC.

The Big 12 has yet to release its 2012 conference schedule, with the fate of West Virginia still up in the air.

Jeffrey Carroll scored 26 points, tying a career-high with five 3-pointers, and Kendall Smith added 19 points to help Oklahoma State beat Stanford 71-65 on Monday night in a second-round game of the NIT.

Jeffrey Carroll scored 26 points, tying a career-high with five 3-pointers, and Kendall Smith added 19 points to help Oklahoma State beat Stanford 71-65 on Monday night in a second-round game of the NIT.